Melik Aghamalov graduated from the Azimzadeh State Art College in Baku in 1982 and from the Surikov State Aca­demic Art Institute in Moscow in 1990. Since 1997, Aghamalov has been a member of the Union of Artists of Azer­baijan. Aghamalov uses symbols and signs to tell the story of the origination of the world and forms, their develop­ment and interaction, giving the viewer the possibility to enjoy the beauty of the material world while experiencing the spiritual one.

Works by the painter Melik Aghamalov, one of the most popular makers of contemporary visual art in Azerbaijan, have been shown and purchased by museums and collections in Azerbaijan, France, Germany, United King­dom, Russia and the UAE. His work is marked by a piercing, inimitable individuality.

Painting, aside from the ornamental, rarely exhibits a distinct rhythm, yet it is present in Aghamalov’s canvases. The artist loves fragmentation, but these fragments, like cells in an organism, are arranged in a strictly regimented order. There is something of the comic book in this, if only one could fit philosophical ruminations and antique mini-remixes into a comic strip. The recognition of the original painting fragments in the works of Aghamalov, allows the art critic to label this artist as post-modernist. The recognition of texture also allows the viewer to affix a label of High Art to his work. The recognition of the author’s unique manner allows the gallery owner to utter the word “brand”. The Still Life series most vividly characterizes the creative proclivity of this artist. The characteristic effect of ‘ruined paintings’ – as if their stains were a result of layers of time’s fingering – was borrowed by the artist from his impression of Venice. The city floating on water impressed him so much that it added a new stroke to his artistic repertoire. His love of antiquities is also seen in the friezes that frame his still life series. Because of this, these works evoke an association with temple murals and with illustrated manuscripts. Most of his works are replete with symbolism.